Getting quotes on new liner and Bullnose bricks for vinyl pool w/ old aluminum coping

[robbegginer]

Time to replace the liner, but we're also thinking of upgrading from old school aluminum coping to a brick bullnose, we've got a paver pattern elswhere courtesy of the prior owner.

Any suggestions on questions to ask, things to look out for? In particular, we're concerned about the change to brick bullnose but would really like the improvement in looks.

We're in Suffolk County NY.

 

[ajw22]

Post pics of your aluminum coping and the brick you want to change it to.

You know if your aluminum coping is tied into your pool walls?

Do you understand how invasive to your pool structure the coping change will be?

 

[robbegginer]

The pool is below. I don't understand about the coping, in fact just learned the term. We bought the house a few years ago and the pool was here. As mentioned, it's a vinyl pool and time for a new liner.

Not sure how the existing coping is "tied" to the top of the pool walls. A mason stated it might be screwed into wood, in which case he'd have to put wire and mud on top, thereby raising the height of bricks that would be the new coping material. He showed us 2' long by 1' wide by about 3" high paver / bricks. Don't have a photo.

So the problems I just learned about are with option 1) the new coping being 1/2" to 1" higher than the existing pavers. Option 2) being a 3' dig up of the bricks around the edge of the pool and layed back down with a gradual
build up to the new height.

* Doesn't any company manufacture a shorter brick, composite material, so a new coping can match the height?

* Would a poured concrete border of about 1' wide going around the perimeter makes sense? With the proper
reinforcement, couldn't it be poured to match the height?

Our idea was to cut the top of the fiberglass steps and have the new coping material be the same around the entire perimeter of the pool. The discouraging thing is the height of the new material, adding to the expense and perhaps looking like a band aide fix. I don't understand if there are additional coping change issues.

 

[ajw22]

I would pull up a row of pavers along the coping to see the back of it and how it is connected to the pool wall.

@jimmythegreek may have ideas.

 

[Jayphil]

Not 100% related to your question but if you go that route you should cancel your current stairs and put full width integrated steps below the vinyl liner in the small section of the L shaped pool. This would look 10 time better. You will need a new wall panel to cancel your stair and need to find same pavers as you have today to fill that area.

This is what I did, obviously different because me my shape of pool but your would look even more modern since L shaped pool with stairs in the "L" section is very popular.

 

[robbegginer]

Not 100% related to your question but if you go that route you should cancel your current stairs and put full width integrated steps below the vinyl liner

Looks awesome. Thanks for the suggestion, but we're looking for a lower cost solution.

 

[robbegginer]

Jay, I see you chose poured concrete coping (& deck).

What was the coping prior to the conversion? Looks like it was a concrete deck, but didn't cover the edge like
in the remodel.

Are you happy with poured concrete as the new coping?
What did you learn about poured concrete & coping?

 

[Jayphil]

Jay, I see you wet with a poured concrete coping.

Did you convert from an aluminum style like we have?
Are you happy with poured concrete as the new coping?
What did you learn about poured concrete & coping?

Mine was plastic border with concrete. The renovation was completed in October last year and I just opened the pool this week but water still at 40 degree F...
So far I am really happy with the quality of the concrete cantilever and obviously the look but I have yet to find lesson learn of my decision because it is so new.

What I like

• Look, no plastic, no mix of materials (only concrete and the liner)
• Liner is without pattern an attach invisibly under the concrete

To consider

• It is hard and ruff to more chance to scratch yourself
• Cannot remove to fix the liner attachment system if it breaks

 

[robbegginer]

What I like

• Look, no plastic, no mix of materials (only concrete and the liner)
• Liner is without pattern an attach invisibly under the concrete

To consider

• It is hard and ruff to more chance to scratch yourself
• Cannot remove to fix the liner attachment system if it breaks

Looks much more sophisticated. My wife has decided that the new liner won't have a top row pattern, and being a wiseman myself, I agreed.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jayphil]

Looks much more sophisticated. My wife has decided that the new liner won't have a top row pattern, and being a wiseman myself, I agreed.

Thanks for sharing.

I agree it look much better. The only downside of this is that above / next to the water line the liner will fade quicker so I might look worst at some point without a waterline pattern... Make sure you chose a liner that fade to a very close base color.

For example my liner is mostly great with some black. The base liner is grey so the black will disappear to a full grey liner which is not to bad. But if your chose a liner with light blue pattern that will fade to white around the water line this will look bad.

 

[robbegginer]

The one quote we got was with a brick that was about 3" tall, we dont have a photo of it.
As recommended by a poster here, we dug out and looked. It's a metal shelf just below the coping. I'm assuming it's bolted to it.

We are looking for a quote from a concrete contractor that does pools. But we only need the coping. I think concrete would look better in the corners than cut brick, anyway.

Not sure what to look out for with a concrete pour.

How is the transition form poured concrete to existing pavers managed?